Blast furnace construction



NOV. 19, 1946. A, WHITCOMB 2,411,487

BLAST FURNACE CONSTRUCTION Filed April 5, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet l Nov. 19, 1946.. A wHlTOMB 2,411,487

BLAST FURNACE CONSTRUCTION f Filed April 5, 1945 4 sheets-sheet 2 lil 25113 Nov. 19, 1946. A J WHWCOMB 2,411,487

BLAST FURNACE CONSTRUCTION Filed April 5, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 I2 18 16 i 1 Y 1 l/ Y f; Y if l VT- t: C5 1 /ff H x5? mx; [5 l I f l u INVENTOR. Afz'h wmf Whicomb Nov. 19, 1946.

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A. J. WHITCOMB BLAST FURACE CONSTRUCTION Filed April 5, 1,945 1 1 Sheets-Sheet 4 Fig. 4

INVENTGR. .Af-har J. Whi tcamb Patented Ncv; 19, 194s Y Arthur `J.' Whitcomb. Chicago,

Freyn E l The present"inventionrelates.to improvements ingblastfurnaceconstruction:

mast furnaces Iare*commonly 'provided' at `the top thereofV with two bellsarranged in series,` `an upprmostbell termeda small bell and a lowermost belltermed'a large"bell.` Saidbells are opened alternatively 'to "permit" the insertion `of material into the lfurmfv. :ewhile preventing the escape of "large quantities ofgas from the'interior of thelfurnace.- 'I'l'iefFci'mRiceY and `Whitcolnb Patent No. 2,215,872, patented `September 24,1940, disclosesa blast; furnace Aconstructionv having lan equalizer `'valve between Vthe f small" bell `and the large bell.':together'withy certain permissive interlocking mechanism "therebetween: f 'ThisV equipment "is applicable under ordinaryconditionsf-in which the pressure within the top ofthe blast furnace vis not' ioohigh." u l f i i There appear `to be certain advantages in operating blast furnaces at-`increased internal pressures such that the pressure at the vtop of the blast furnaces might approximate one atmosphere Company Chicago corporation crnnmc i m" f Application Api-u s, 1945, scc-u1 Nc'. `ssa'nc` f 4 claims; (ci. zcfzfn A,

above mean atmospheric pressure.` The use of anvequalizer'valve would `be necessary in connection withsu'chfa'blast furnace, but itwould not be sufilcient. In addition thereto it becomes `necessaryto introduce arelief valve, the equalizer l and coils in said relay circuits being located in valve being utilized to equalize the pressure bef -tweenthetop ofthe furnace chamberand the region between the bells prior'to opening theflarge bell, therelief valve being usedtoreduce the pressure in the region between the bells to atmos- Dhericpressu're prior to opening the small bell. Anobject of the presentinvention is to -provide a blast furnace construction having an equalizer valve and a relief valve such as above Vreferred to, together with novelinterlockin'g means therebetween and with the furnacebells. l A further object is to provide an improved blast furnace construction having interlocking means as above referred to in which themechanisms un-v der control mustactually respond and make their necessary movements before the next succeeding movements may be made. f 4 l Y.

A further object is to providea blast furnace construction`having interlockingY means of permissive typefin `that it gives permission forcertain functions'to takefplace`,--l:)ut` also requires them to take place as prerequisites to bell opening operationsi* i f i A further object is to 4provide a. blast furnace constructionhaving improvedinterlocking means which prevents the functioning of the parts under improper conditions. v

A furtherjobject is toprovide a blast furnace construction having 1intcrlciinnigmeaus. such,... as,

above 'referred to which i'sfsimple ndnot likely togctoutotordea4 K" i A further `object is to provide a blast furnace construction having interlocking means; between the large and small bells, a` relief valve well adapted to meet the-needs of commercial service. i f i Further objectswill appear'asfthe description proceeds.

u Referring t0` the drawings- Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view illustrating-one embodiment of the presentl invention; c Figure 2 is a. detail view`partly in section, showing a relief valve which may tice of the present invention; 'f

Figure 3 is a detail view. partlyl in*` section, showing an equalizer valve which `may be `used inthe practice ofthe present invention u Figure 4 is a panel diagram showing relay' and other instrumentalitiesiwhich may be `used in carrying out and Figure 5 is a diagram which may be used in locating the instrumentalities in certain of the relay circuits shown inll'igure 4, the contactors the objects of the present invention;

line with the corresponding instrumentalities in Figure 4. i

Referring ilrst to Figure 1, the letter A represents a small bell (located uppermostland the letter B indicates a large bell (located lowermost), which cooperate with vone another in the chargingof the blast furnace C, which provides a furnace chamber below "the large bell B. The two bells A and B may beuarranged coaxially in a manner which is common in practice, the bell A being controlled by a cable E, while the lamer bell B` is controlled by the cable D, levers F and G being connected to said cables D andE, re- `spectively, said levers F and G being connected tothe bells B and A, respectivelv. The cable E is connected to the hydraulic cylinder H, which is adapted to have a reciprocating movement along a vertical'axis.A

Disposed within the small bell cylinder H is the piston I, which piston is carried by the piston rod J. Said piston rod J and piston I are stationarily mounted. The piston rod J Vis provided with the port Kcommunicating with the space above the piston I and is also provided with the port L communicating with the space `below said piston I.

an equalizer valve, and y be usedin the praci able in the open market. It will be suilicient to state that when said four-way valve M is in one predetermined position, it provides communication from the fluid inlet N through port L to the space below the piston I. At the same time said valve M provides access from the port K to an exhaust O. When said four-way valve M is in another predetermined position it permits access from the uid inlet N through the port K to the space above the piston I. At the same time it permits access from the space below the piston I to the exhaust O. Said four-way valve M is adapted to be operated by means of the motor P, which,

through any preferred power transmitting mechanism, operates the crank Q. Said crank Q may 'be connected to said four-way valve M through any preferred mechanism. Said crank Q may also operate certain limit switches, which will be described presently.`

'I'he cable D is connected to the cylinder R,

which is also `adapted to have a reciprocating movement along a vertical axis. Said cylinder R is provided with the piston S carried by the piston rod T. Said piston S and piston rod T ythe four-way valve M above described. When vsaid four-way valve is in one predetermined position, vit permits access from the source of iluid pressure N to the space on the under side of the piston S, and at the same time provides access from the space above the piston S to the exhaust 0. When'said four-way valve W is in another predetermined positiomitpermits access from the source of iiuid pressure N to the space above lthe pistoni S, and at the same time permits access from the space below the piston S to the exhaust O. Said four-way valve is adapted to be operated by means of the electric motor Y,

which, through any preferredpower transmit.

ting mechanism, is adapted to turn the crank .Z. Said crank Z is connected to the four-wayl valve W through any preferred connecting means,

which need not be described'.

The numeral I0 indicatesa-by-pass conduit,

one end of which is connected to the interior of.

the furnace chamber adjacent to the top thereof and the Aother end of which is connected to the space between the large bell B and thesmall bell A. Disposed intermediate of the length of the conduit Illis the equalizer valve I I, shown more in detail in Figure 3. By referringto Figu re 3 it will be noted that said equalizer valve II includes the stationary seat l2 adapted to be contacted by the movable valve member- I3.

. Said movable valve member I3 is pivotally mounted at the end of a swinging arm I4, which arm is fast to the swinging arcuate member I5 journaled withina portion of the valve Il. Said arcuate member I5 has two grooves in its periphery, one for receiving the cable I3, from an extremity of .which is suspended the counterweight I1. The other end o! said cable I3.is fast withthe arcuate member I3. The counterweight I1serves to bias'athe arcuate member l5 in a counterclockwise direction to hold the valve member I3 against its seat I2. The other groove in the arcuate member.. I5 is provided with the cable I3, one end of which is fast with the arcuate member I5. Lifting of the cable i3'will tend tn mise the; cnunterwelght l1 and move the 8.11311."

. 4 i ate member I3 in a clockwise direction-to ymove the valve I3 from its seat to .open the equalizer valve Il.

As shown in Figure 1, the cable I3 is train over a sheave I3 and has its lower extremity connected to the piston -rod 23, which is connected to the piston 2I in the cylinder 22. The

cylinder 22 is provided at its top. with the inlet conduit 23 and at its bottom with the exhaust conduit 24. Said inlet conduit 23v is connected to the three-way valve 23, which may be of 'usual conformation.. Said three-way valve 23 is provided with' the air inlet conduit 23 and with the. exhaust conduit 21. Said valve 23 is responsive to the plunger 23, which is adapted to be controlled by instrumentalities to be explained more in detail presently. It may be stated briefly at this point that the valve 23 is biased to a position wherein air above the piston 2|v will be"ex hausted through the conduit 21 to the atmosphere and said plunger will be'raised to its uppermostv position. Air under pressure from the tsupply f conduit 23 may be. communicated through the conduit 23 to the region above the piston 2| to force said piston downwardly to exerta downward pull on the cablev I8 to liftthe counterweight I1 to move the valve member I3 'from its' seat to open the equalizer valve II. The piston rod 20 of the cylinder 22 is provided with a cam 29 adapted to operate a pair of ,limit switchesf'to be described presently.

- Communicating with the space between the small bell A' and lthe large bell B is a relief con- -V duit 3 0 provided with the relief valve 3l.' the details of which are illustrated in Figure 2. Said relief valvecontrols access from the region between the bells A and B to the atmosphere.

\ Referring to Figure 2, it will be notedv that the relief valve 3| includes the movable member 32 adapted to be seated against the stationary valvemember 33. Said movable valve member A 32 is pivotedto a swinging arm34 fast with an arcuate' member35. Saidarcuate member 33 has a pair of grooves in .its arcuate periphery,

one for receiving a cable 33 which-suspends the counterweight 31. The other end of the cable 33 is secured, through means not illustrated, to the arcuate memberl 33. The other groove in the arcuate periphery ofthe arcuate member 33 receives the cable33, one end of which-is secured to the arcuate member 3l. By reference to Figure' 1 it will be noted that the cable 33 is trained over the sheaves 39 and 43 and has its duit 43 for supplying air under pressure. and` also communicating with the valve 43 is the conduit 41 for discharging air to the atmosphere. The lower regi'on ofthe operating cylinder 43 is provided with the exhaust conduit 43 for passing air frombelow the piston 42 to the atmosphere. Said valve 43 is responsive to a plunger:v 43, which in its lowermost or-biased position connects the air supply conduit 43 to the region above the piston 42, whereby to force said piston downwardly to exert a pull on the cable 33 to raise the counterweight 31 to open the relief valve 3l. Y

The piston rod 4I of the operating cylinder 43 is provided with the cam 33, which as the piston v operates the limit switches 53 and 54.

The small bell operating cylinder H is adapted to control the limit switch SBC and the large bell operating cylinder R is adapted to control the limit switch LBC. The cam 29 movable with the piston rod of theequalizer valve operating` cylinder 22 is adapted at the upper region of its stroke to control the limit switch EVC and at the lower region of its stroke to control the limit switch EVO.

The cam 50 movable with the piston rod 4| of the relief valve operatingcylinder 43 is adapted in the upper portion of its stroke to control the limit switch RVC and at the lower region of itsl stroke to control the limit switch RVO.

The three-way valve. for controlling the operating cylinder 22, which in turn controls the equalizer valve Il, is responsive to the solenoid EV-solenoid, and the three-way valve 45 for controlling the cylinder 43, which in turn controls the relief valve 3|, is responsive to the solenoid Rif-solenoid.

- The various solenoids and switches abovementioned are controlled from a panel CP supplied by the electric conductors 55-55. The control panel CP is connected to the various switches and solenoids through multiple wire cables, as illustrated in Figure 1. The circuits embodying said multiple wire cables, switches and solenoids will be clear from the diagram appearing in Figure 4.

The valve 25 associated with the equalizer valve is biased to a position corresponding to that in which the region above the piston 2| .is connected to atmosphere, yWhen the ETV-solenoid is energized, the valve 25 is positioned to cause high pressure air to enter the region above the piston 2|, thereby opening the equalizer valve Il. Y

The valve 45 associated with the relief valve 3| is biased to a position in which air under pressure is introduced above the piston 42, therebyopening the rel-iet valve 3|. So long as RV-solenoid is energized. relief valve 3| is closed.

Limit switch EVC is provided with two pairs of contacts EVC- i and EVC-2. The pair oi? contacts EVC-i are closed when the equalizer valve i i is closed, that is--when the piston 2l is up. The'pair of contacts EVC-lare open when the equalizer valve is closed. i l

Limit `switch EVC includes the pair of contact" EVO-l, closed when the equalizer valve Il is op en.

Limit switch RVC includes two pairs of contacts RVC-I and' BVC-2, both of which `are closed when the relief valve 3|-is closed, that is-when the piston 42 is up.

Limit switch RVO includes a pair of contacts RVO--L closed when the relief valve 3| is open.

'I'he limit switch'SBC for the small bell cylinder includes the pair of contacts SBC-i, closed Awhen the small bell A- is closed.

The limit switch LBC for the large bell cylinder includes the. pair of contacts LBC-i, closed at all times except when the large bell B is closed.

. 6 This pair of contacts LBC-i close as soon large bell B leaves its closed position.

Limit switch 5| is biased to closed position and is open when the small bell valve M is in bellclosing position.` Limit switch 52 is biased to closed position and is open when the small bell valve M is Vin bell-opening position.

Limit switch 53 is biased to closed position and is open when the large'bell valve W is in bellclosing position. Limit switch 54 is biased to closed position and is open when the large bell valve W is in bell-openingpositlon.

Referring now to Figure 4, the various instru-` mentalities above mentioned are shown diagrammatically in an electrical control circuit. In

addition to the instrumentalities previously mentioned, the diagram of Figure 4 shows the following instrumentalities:

The small bell push button SBPB includes a walking beam operating member having the alternatively operative buttons marked Open and Close." When the "Close button is depressed, a switch a is moved to open position and a switch b is moved to closed position. When the button Open is depressed. the switch a is moved to closed position and the switch b is moved to open position.

VThe large bell push button LBPB is also provided with a walking beam operating member provided with the alternatively operative buttons "Open and "Close'Jv Said large bell push button controls the switch c, d and e. When the Close button is depressed, switches c and d are moved to open position and the switch e button is depressed, switches c and d are moved to closed position and switch e is moved to open position. i

As shown in the diagram of Figure 4:,A the motor P is provided with the armature Pa and with the two series ield windings Pb and Pc, which serve to operate the motor in two directions. A Y The motor Y is provided with the armature Ya and with the two series iield windings Yb and Yc.

The control panel CP also includes relays EVI, RV and EV, the operating coils of which are indicated in Figure 4 by the reference letters A .lust mentioned. The operating coil E'VI when energized is adapted to close the pairs oi contacts EVI-i, EVI2 and EVI-3, which contacts are biased to open position whenthe coil EVI is not energized. 55 The operating coil RV when energized is adapted to close the pair of contacts RV-l, which contacts are biased to open position when the coil RV is not energized.

The operating coil EVwhen energized is adapted to close the pair of contacts EV|, biased to oien position when the coil EV is not energlze The mode of operation oi' the above described embodiment of the tially as follows:

After a load of material has been charged upon the small bell A, said small bell may be opened by pushing the Open button of the push button SBPB. 'I'his closes the circuit through the present invention is substanseries iield winding Pb and armature Pa because of the fact that the limit switch contacts EVC-I are closed (equalizer valve V|| being closed) and A iisthe4 is moved to closed position. vWhen the "Operi4 sulting 7 cylinder H and open the small bell A. As soon as the valve M is in this position, limit switch 52 opens and the motor 'P stops. Meanwhile valve M is in this position the limit switch In this manner the opens and motor P stops. small bell A is opened and closed. This cycle may be repeated several times in order to'discharge `several loads of material upon the large bell.

At intervals it will be desired to open the large bell B in order to discharge into the blast furnace the material which has been delivered from the small bell A. 'Ihe large bell B may be opened by pushing the button marked Open" of the push button LBPB. 'Ihis closes the circuit through the switch c, causing coil EVI to be energized. 'I'he resulting closure of the contactor EVI- I causes the coil RV to be energized. This causes contactor RV-I to close, thus energizing the solenoid RV-solenoid. This leads to the closure of the relief valve 3|. The instrumentalities in Figure 1 are shown as though the operationwere stopped with the reing coil EV. causing the contacts EV-I to open,

`deenergizing the solenoid EV-solenoid, causing the 'exhausting of air from the upper portionof the Acylinder 22, causing the equalizer valve to close. This causes the limit switch contacts EVC-2 to open. When the. large bell B Vfully closes, limit switch contacts LBC-I are opened.

' Coil RV is now deenergized because contacts ,EVI-l, EVC- 2 and LBC--l are all'Open. Consequently the contacts RV-I open, leading to the deenergization oi the solenoid RV-solenoid,

lief valve closed, the equalizer valve closed and Energization" of the coil EVI also results in the closure of contactor EVI-2, completing a circuit through the coil EV as soon as the relief valve closes (thereby closing the limit switch contacts RVC-D Contacts SBC-l are closed because the rsmall bell A is in closed position.

. Energization of the coil EV causes the closure of the contactor EV|, which causes energizetion of the solenoid EV-soienoid. This leads to the opening of the of the equalizer valve Energization of the coil EV--l also results in the closure of the contacts EVI-3, completing a circuit through the series iield winding Yb and the amature Ya of the motor Y, since the switch d is closed and the relief-valve 3| is closed (whereby limit switch contacts yl'tVC--z are closed) and the equalizer valve is open (whereaf by limit switch contacts EVO--I are closed). The motor Y operates to move 4the valveyWA to a position to cause a large bell operating -"cylin der R to lift, opening the large bell B. As soon as thc valve W has moved to the cylinder lifting position the limit switch 54 is opened, stopping the motor Y. Meanwhile the limit switch 53 closes.

The large bell B is closed by. depressing the Close button oi.' the push button LBPB. This closes the circuit through the' switch e through the limit switch 53 and through the series field winding Yc and the armature Ya. of the motor Y. I'he motor Y operates in a direction to move the valve W into position for lowering the cylinder R. As soon as the valve W attains this position the limit switch contacts 53 open. Lowering of the cylinder R results in the closure of the large bell B.

AThe depressing of the Close button of LBPB results in the opening of the switch c, which leads to the deenergization of the coil EVI, re-

in the opening of contacts EVI-I, EVI- 2 and EVI-3. Opening of the contacts EVI-2 f .ruses the deenergization of the operatthus causing the relief valve 3| to cycle is thus completed.

The interlocking arrangement as illustrated and describedY is of the forced type; that is, the mechanisms under control must actually respond and make their necessary movements in order open. The

to actuate the limit switches whose contacts are included in the control circuits. The interlocking arrangement is of the permissive type in that it gives permission for certainfunctionsy `to take place, but it also requires them to take place as a prerequisite of bell-opening operations. 'I 'he interlocking arrangement illustrated and described prevents the operations fromy taking place under improper conditions. l

Recapitulating certain advantages of the present invention, the following may be mentioned: 1. The small bell A can open only when" the equalizer valve is closed andthe relief valve 3| is open. 2. 'I'he large bell B can open only when the Vrelief valve 3| is closed and the equalizer valve is open.

3. The relief valve 3| must be closed and the small bell A must be closed before the equalizerl ent invention has been described in detail, many y a, topmost charging bell at the top of said chami modifications will occurl to thoseskilled in the art. It is intended to cover all such modifications that fall within the scope'of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:` 1. A blast furnace comprising, in combination, a furnace chamber, -a lowermost charging bell,

ber, said bells being arranged in series with one another, means for operating the lowermost of said bells, means for operating the uppermost ofV said bells, a by-pass conduit adapted to connect the space between said bells with said furnace chamber, an equalizer vvalve in said conduit, motive means for said equalizer valve, a relief valve for providing communication between the space between said bells and atmosphere, motive means for said relief valvefand means for interlocking said operating meansv for the uppermost of said bells with said equalizer valve and said relief valve to permit said uppermost of said bells to open only when said equalizer valve is closed and said relief valve is open.

2. A blast furnace comprising, in combination, a furnace chamber, a lowermost charging bell, a topmost charging bell at the top of said chamber, said bells being arranged in series withv one another, means for operating the lowermost of said bells, means for operating the uppermost of said bells, a by-pass conduit adapted to connect the space between said bells with saidfurnace chamber, an equalizer valve in said conduit. motive means for said equalizer valve, a relief valve for providing communication between the space between sai'd bells and atmosphere, motive means for said relief valve, and means for interlocking said operating means for the lowermost of said bells with said relief valve and said equalizer valve to permit said lowermost of said bells to open only when said relief valve is closed and said equalizer valve is open.

3. A blast furnace comprising, in combination, a furnace chamber, a lowermost charging bell, a topmost-l charging bell at the top of said chamber, said bells being arranged in series with one another, means for operating the lowermost of valve to permit said equalizer valve to be opened only when said relief valve and said uppermost of said bellsl are closed.

4. A blast furnace comprising, in combination, a furnace chamber, a lowermost charging bell, a. topmost charging bell at the top of said chamber, said bells being arranged in series with one another, means for operating the lowermost of said bells, means for operating the uppermost of said bells, means for operating the uppermost of said bells, a by-pass conduit adapted to connect the space between said bells with said furnace chamber, an equalizer valve in said conduit, motive means for said equalizer valve, a relief valve for providing communication between the space between said bells and atmosphere, motive means for said relief valve, and means for interlocking said relief valve, said equalizer valve and said operating means for the lowermost of said bells to permit the opening of said relief valve only when said equalizer valve is closed and said lowermost -bell is closed.

ARTHUR. J. WHITCOMB. 

